Non-capsizable boat



y 25, 1959 H. L. WAGENER 2,887,981

NON-CAPSIZABLE BOAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct 18, 1955 I I v Q in INVENTOR- f7 #419010 mam m 1959 H. L. WAGENER 2,887,981

NON-CAPSIZABLE BOAT Filed Oct. 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Z5 fl/I/POZfl A. WAGf/KQ? United States PatentO percent to Joseph Cusla, West Collingswood Heights,

five percent to John Leatherbury, Camden, five percent to Charles F. Wagener, Collingswood, and thirtyfour percent to Albert A. Moss, Merchantville, NJ.

Application October 18, 1955, Serial No. 541,283

2 Claims. (Cl. 115-16) The present invention relates to' boats and is concerned primarily with a boat that is so designed and constructed as to render it impossible, for all practical purposes, to be capsized.

The need of a non-capsizable boat is self-evident. One repeatedly reads in the newspapers about lives being lost on fishing trips, pleasure excursions, and similar events. Then again, when a swimmer or bather becomes endangered, particularly in rough water, a boat which cannot capsize becomes particularly useful. This is also true of other types of rescue work which is performed by our Coast Guard.

With the need of a non-capsizable boat in mind, the present invention has in view as its foremost objective the provision of a boat of this charatcer. In carrying out this broad objective in a practical embodiment, the invention provides a boat having substantially the same dimension in all directions. Thus, the boat is substantially circular.

More in detail, the invention has as an object the provision of a boat of the character indicated which consists, essentially, of a circular deck and a plurality of individual floats that buoyantly support the deck above the water. These floats are preferably symmetrically arranged so as to support the deck in a substantially horizontal position regardless of load disposition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a noncapsizable boat of the character indicated which includes a circular deck and at least three buoyant floats on which the deck is mounted. It is believed that three is the minimum number which will afford the stability required.

From its very nature, a boat must be capable of being propelled through the water and must be steered or guided during such movement. Thus, another object of the invention is to provide, in a non-capsizable boat of the character indicated, a rudder which is mounted on the deck together with a self-contained propulsion unit for each of the floats. Such a propulsion unit will ordinarily include some form of propeller together with a power source for driving the propeller. Both the propeller and the source of power are included in each float.

In providing a boat of the character above indicated, it is important that the float be so designed and constructed as to afford the required supporting effects [and stability while the boat is either at rest or in movement. Thus, another highly important object of the invention is to provide, in a non-capsizable boat of the character indicated, a float which will meet these requirements. In carrying out this idea, the float has a forward end which is substantially semispherical with a pointed rear that blends in with the semispherical portion.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel type of propeller which is peculiarly adapted for use in a float of the non-capsizable boat of this invention. This propeller preferably takes the form of a helical screw which is mounted within a tube that is open at both ends with the screw being driven from a power source within the float.

2 ,887,981 Patented May 26, 1959 Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention, such as arise in connection with carrying out the above-noted ideas in a practical embodiment, will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises a non-oapsizable boat which consists, essentially, of a circular deck that is supported from at least three specially designed floats, each of which includes a propeller and a power source for driving the propeller, with a rudder being mounted on the deck.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a side view, mainly in elevation but partially in section, of a non-capsizable boat that is designed in accordance with the precepts of this invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the boat.

Figure 3 is a top plan View with the floats and rudder shown in phantom outline. I

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of one of the floats per se.

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of one of the floats; and

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section through one of the floats taken about on the plane represented by the line 66 of Figure 5.

Referring now to the dnawing and first more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the boat of this invention is shown as including as an essential and characteristic element a deck 10 which is preferably circular. Upstanding from the peripheral edge of the deck 10 is a railing 11. Mounted on the deck 10 is a cabin 12 which also follows the contour of the boat in being circular. Between the deck 10 and railing 11, there is an annular ring-like strip or space 13 which may accommodate fishermen or other passengers. At an appropriate point, the deck 10 is formed with an opening 15 which accommodates a rudder post 16. This rudder post 16 carries a rudder 17 beneath the deck, which is preferably of the balanced type.

The deck 10 is supported from its underside by three floats, each of which is identified in its entirety by the reference character F. These floats F are arranged in the symmetrical manner illustrated to afford good stability. If a greater number of the floats F should be employed, this arrangement would doubtlessly be changed.

One of the floats F is shown in detail in Figures 4, 5 and 6. Thus, each float F comprises a hull or shell 18 which is connected at the top to a collar 18. The forward end of the shell 18 is substantially half of a hemisphere. The rear end is defined by the pointed edge 20 which converges in with the spherical construction by the tapered walls 21.

The forward end of the shell 18 is provided with a propeller opening 22 while the rear end is provided with a similar opening 23. As shown in Figure 6, a tube 24 extends between the openings 22 and 23. Operatively mounted in this tube 24 is a screw propeller 25 which preferably is a helix. This propeller 25 is driven from a source of power within the hull 18 such as the engine represented at 26. Any suitable type of driving connections may be employed to drive the propeller 25 from the engine 26, such as those indicated at 27.

In lieu of the helical screw propeller 25 and the engine 26, the invention contemplates the use of a conventional outboard motor which could be applied to each of the floats. Any other means of propulsion could also be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is obvious that the deck 10 is mounted on the collar 19 of the respective floats. When the boat is immersed in water, these floats F support the deck in a highly stable manner, and in view of the fact that the deck has substantially the same dimension in all directions, it is not susceptible of being capsized, even in rough water.

The round design of the hulls 18 of the floats F not only afford good stability both in movement and while immobile but also afford eflicient operation due to the slip stream provided.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact constructions, designs, and mechanisms illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a non-capsizable boat, a circular deck having an underside, three floats secured to the underside of said deck and symmetrically arranged, each of said floats having a forward portion defined by a hemisphere and a pointed rear edge with tapered walls extending from said rear edge and merging into said forward portion, the upper edges of said hemispherical portion and said tapered walls being attached directly to the underside of said deck, the pointed rear edges of two of said floats being located substantially immediately beneath the peripheral edge of said deck, and a rudder operatively mounted in said deck adjacent to the periphery thereof and positioned substantially midway between said two pointed rear edges located at the periphery of the deck.

standing from the central portion of said upper surface, there being an annular space between said railing and said cabin, and three floats secured to the underside of said deck and symmetrically arranged, each of said floats including a hull having a forward portion defined by a hemisphere and a pointed rear edge with tapered walls extending from said rear edge and merging into said forward portion, the upper edges of said hemispherical portion and said tapered walls being attached directly to the underside of said deck, each of said hulls having a forward propeller opening, a rear propeller opening with a tube extending between said openings, and a helical screw propeller in said tube, a power source in said hull for driving said propeller: the pointed rear edges of two of said hulls lying substantially immediately below said peripheral edge of the deck, and a rudder pivotally mounted in said deck adjacent to the periphery thereof and arranged substantially midway between said two pointed rear edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Nov. 22, 1930 

